Best concert you ever did see

[The Coop]

Kind of a sister thread to the band you would like to have seen but missed. What was the best show you have ever seen. For whatever reason, which one sticks out in your mind the most. Sounds like allot of us here have been to allot of shows, so it will probably be tough to narrow down. Like most of the people that answered the other thread, I've seen just about every band I wanted to, except for a few that were a little before my time, or just didn't come around close enough to see them. But if I had to pick my favorite show of all time to see again, it would have to be Rory Gallagher. I'm not a guitar player, so it's not a guitar guy thing. It's just the 2 times I saw him he was touring for Photo-Finish and Top Priority and those are my favorite albums of his. Unbelievable energy and talent. Yes, Rory Gallagher, another talent that died way to soon.

[Scott M]

Stageside table in a club called The Pier in 1978. Richard Belzer (who I had never heard of) was the warm-up act. Warren Zevon - buzzed to the gills and backed by Waddy Wachtel, Stanley Sheldon, and Rick Morotta absolutely slew the audience for a solid two hours - playing everything from "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" to "Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger". Then we somehow got invited backstage. Zevon stole my Zippo lighter and came onto my girlfriend! But it was cool. An under-rated artist in my opinion and a great live performer.

[fenrya13]

For me, it's a rough tie between a stage side seat at club to see Blue Oyster Cult; and the incredible 3 hour long Metallica concert for the "Black" album.

[hedorah59]

Hmmmmm... It might have been Kiss in '77, since it was my first concert and I was 18 and impressed by all the theatrics. Or maybe a Day on the Green in 1978 which had AC/DC as the opening act (Bon Scott), Van Halen (Roth), Pat Travers, Foreigner, and Aerosmith headlining. John Denver put on a great show as well...

I think if I had to pick the very best I would have to say it was An Evening with Queen. No opening act, just Queen. Freddie Mercury was fantastic...

I've got to add one more - I took my son to his first concert last summer -Mayhemfest with Underoath, Machinehead, Dragonforce, Mastodon, Disturbed, and Slipknot. We had a great time

[kitator]

I`ve seen so many concerts,but I guess the main one that stood out above them all was Pantera with Rob Zombie opening for them.The building that held the concert was literally destroyed by the fans.There were no seats bolted to the floors anymore by the end of the show.That had to be the biggest moshpit I`ve ever seen.Pantera got banned from ever playing in that building again,and the headlines in the newspaper the next day read: "PANTERROR!!".Aside from all the brutal destruction of the building,fires lit by fans,and many broken bones of mosh pit victims,Pantera,and Zombie put on a damn good show.

[Mr.Pink]

Hmmmmm... It might have been Kiss in '77, I was 18 and impressed by all the theatrics.

I think if I had to pick the very best I would have to say it was An Evening with Queen. No opening act, just Queen. Freddie Mercury was fantastic...

Funny.. those were the first two that popped into my head as well, though TOOL,Metallica, Led Zep and Rush are right up there too. So hard to pick just one.

[Paquet]

The most amazing show I ever saw was LAIBACH, in about '91 or so. I saw them at a warehouse space in NYC, and their presence and show was mind boggling and unequaled by anything I have ever seen.

The best "concert" I ever saw might be the first I ever went to which was VAN HALEN at Madison Square Garden in '81. The Fair Warning tour, when they were at their pinnacle of creativity and raw power.

[todlaw]

Hey William Paquet
Laibach,they were pretty cool.I saw them once around the same time at a small club here in Vancouver.It was a great show the front guy has an amazing presence.The very first show i ever saw was Skinny Puppy i was 13,pretty crazy first show.Other top ones for me Cro- Mags,Circle Jerks ,Ramones.
Todd

[jps3404]

Janes Addiction, Fishbone, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Palace here in Hollywood. That was in like 90 or 91. Killer show!

One more - KISS with Alice in Chains on the reunion tour in 96 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

Sorry, I couldn't pick just one.

[DaveKeeper]

I would have to say:
Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation tour, fresh off the drugs and on the comeback trail.
Queensryke, Operation Mind Crime tour, sounded just like the album
Marilyn Manson, Antichrist Superstar tour, amazing theatrics and show
Pink Floyd, A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour, proved that anyone can sound good in BC Place Stadium, as long as they use a Quadraphonic PA system.

[Creature Core7]

TOOL; 10,000 Days tour 2007, Roberts Stadium, Evansville, Indiana.

[Bubba]

Gotta go with Jason on this one... TOOL 10KD (first leg of the US tour)

I've been to a lot of concerts, but there was just something about that show... Synchronicity, lightning in a bottle, I don't know... The band must have felt the same. They spent their entire "intermission" just sitting on one of the stage risers, interacting with the crowd...

Let's just say this... When they started playing "10,000 Days/Wings for Marie", the lighters came out... It was literally as if someone had turned on the house lights in the arena. I've never seen anything like it! (even at a Journey concert!!!) Everything was spot-on... The performances, the stage and light show, all of it... I've seen them before and after, and they've been great each time, but this one stands out...

Hell, my wife, who wasn't really a fan before the show, and just went along to make me happy, became a fan afterward, and calls it her second favorite live show she's seen... (The first being an all night blues jam hosted/performed by Prince at his studio.)

My second runner-up would be Extreme and Alice in Chains at First Avenue... Excellent performances by both bands in a very intimate setting... I still wonder how Nuno pulls off some of the stuff he does with a guitar!!!

[Pun13]

Dio at the Garden, had close to a 20 foot fire breathing Dragon on stage.
The whole theme was Mid evil Times like..

Dio sounded great that night.

Tom

[Hauzy]

Grateful Dead Live at John F Kennedy Stadium on 1989-07-07, last concert for J.F.K befire being torn down and my only time seeing the Dead

[raydrz]

Dio at the Garden, had close to a 20 foot fire breathing Dragon on stage.
The whole theme was Mid evil Times like..

Dio sounded great that night.

Tom

thanxxx for reminding me of that one! it's in my top 5 ever also!...accept opened for them in the midwest...there's an awesome DVD out from that tour, tommy...if you were there, the DVD is a must-have!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Hea ... e_Video%22

[deanot99]

Ive been lucky enough to have seen so many great artists but one performance stands out for me Queen at Wembley the best live performance by a front man ever in my opinion god rest your soul Freddie.

Cheers
Dean

[rmblair]

The Best concert I saw was Kraftwerk in Toronto 1981, what a great show it was! Also I have to sneak this one in Ultravox - Palais Royale, Toronto, 1980

[rmblair]

How could I ever forget this one....The Police Picnic Toronto 1981 with Iggy Pop, Killing Joke, The Specials, Nash The Slash, The Payolas, Oingo Biongo and of course the Police.

[ManthingVT]

William, too saw Van Halen in late 1981 (?) during that tour. When I saw them they were the second opening act for The Rolling Stones during the Tattoo You Tour. Might seem like an odd combo, but it worked and was a fantastic show all around. The back cover to VH's Diver Down was shot during that show and I found myself in print when it came out. That's still one of my coolest moments...

Def Leppard opening for AC/DC on the 2nd night of the Back In black tour at the NYC Palladium in 1980 was probably the best though! DL only had On Through The Night out at the time and played every song I think. AC/DC's show was emotional since Bon had just died a few months before, and the new album had a few days until it was released yet. They sounded pretty d@mned awesome and put on a great show- both groups.

Quiet Riot/Iron Maiden in 1983 (or 1984?) was also a great night. Just not AC/DC I guess... lol!

[HauntedPen]

Iron Maiden on their Number of the Beast tour opening for Judas Priest's Screaming For Vengeance show at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. The only concert where I ever lost my voice.

Alice Cooper's Raise Your Fist and Yell tour in Pittsburgh. Not so much for the new stuff but because he played a lot of stuff from Killer that time around. I've seen the man in concert 7 times (never gets old!) but this was the only time he played Dead Babies when I was there and the only time I saw him do the gallows for the execution--as opposed to the electric chair and the (most commonly) guillotine. Classic Alice!

SteveK